The Government of Timor-Leste has announced that a 1.5 million tpa cement plant is to be built in Baucau, the country’s second largest city.
The plant’s location was decided upon due to the abundance of high-quality limestone reserves. An estimated 100-years of limestone supply can be found in the area.
Around 30% of the cement produced at the facility will go towards domestic consumption. The remainder will be exported to Australia to meet demand generated by construction booms in the west of the country and in the Northern Territory. Perth-based BGC and Swan Energy will together invest more than half a billion dollars in the new cement plant.
Construction is scheduled to commence in January 2015, with production expected to begin two years later. Some 3000 jobs will be created during the construction phase and 1000 jobs will be generated once the plant becomes operational.
“Timor-Leste is open for business and as a country that already enjoys 8% GDP growth is a secure and stable destination for long-term international investment. Today’s announcement is evidence of Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan being executed and bringing with it economic diversification to support future jobs and infrastructure growth,” commented Minister for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Alfredo Pires, at a ceremony marking the first drilling at the site on 5 March 2014.
Adapted from press release by Louise Fordham